Improvement in winter-rails for high stoops



mu FORTE.

Winter-Rail for High-Stoops.

No. 159,830 Patented Fb.i6,187 5.

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THE GRAPHIC C0,PHOTO.-LlTH."5 l9 & 1-1 PARK PlAClN-Y.

rrron REMIGIO LO FORTE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINTER-RAILS FOR HIGH STOOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,830, dated February16, 1875 application filed December 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEMrGIo Lo FORTE, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Winter- Rail for High Stoops,of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide high stoops of houses whichhave broad stone rails at the sides with supplemental rails, that may beof practical use in winter, and to aged and infirm persons at otherseasons.

Thein vention is applicable, chiefly, to buildings in our northerncities, where the steps are frequently covered with snow and ice, andwhere, consequently, the ascent and descent is often coupled withconsiderable danger. The broad stone rails which are usual- 1y appliedto such high stoops have no practical effect, as they are too large toallow the hand to grasp them, and people frequently fall andinjurethemselves on slippery steps for the reason that their hands cannot findanything to hold themselves to.

My improved supplemental rail is a tube or rod, sufficiently small indiameter to be readily grasped by the hand, and is clasped or otherwisesecured to the main stone rail, so as to project inwardly from the same,and to run about parallel therewith; and is, furthermore, maderemovable, so that it can be put away in summer, except when it is to beused throughout the year by infirm persons.

Figure l in the accompanying drawing is a longitudinal vertical sectionof a high stoop, showing my supplemental rail and the broad stone railin side view. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of such stoop, showing therails in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a top view of my improved rail,showing its connection with a clamp, whereby it is fastened to the mainstone rail.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The letter A in the drawing represents the main stone rail, or customarybroad rail, of a high stoop, B. G O are the balusters, whereby such railis supported.

The railing, instead of being of stone, is often of wood or metal, andsupported in other suitable manner; its arrangement and constructionforming no part of my invention, as my invention tends to improve thebroad rails which I find already in existence.

D is my improved supplemental rail. The same is made about as long asthe main rail A, and preferably bent into the same shape lengthwise assuch main rail. It is made of tubular metal, or of wood or othermaterial, of such diameter as to be readily grasped by the hand, and isattached, by means of projecting arms a a, to the main rail.

One mode of attachment is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the sameconsisting of two parallel rods, b cl. The arms a of the rail D connectrigidly with the rod b, such rod being placed against the inner face oftho lower part of the rail A, or against the baluster tops 0, while therod 61 is placed against the outside of said rail A, or baluster tops,and the two rods b d are then drawn together and firmly clamped to therail A or balusters O by means of bolts 0 e, which are clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

In this way the rail D is is attached to themain rail in such away as tobe properly held in place, and so, also, as to be conveniently removableby loosening the nuts on the bolts 0.

I do not, however, wish to confine myself to the particular mode shownof attaching the rail D to the main rail A, as other means may beemployed. Thus, instead of using the rods 1) (I, each of the arms a maybe made to embrace or clasp one of the baluster-heads,

' and in this way to hold the supplemental rail in position.

It will be readily understood that high stoops provided with my improvedwinter'rail will afford protection against slipping, even if the stepsshould be covered with ice and snow, and that, therefore, my inventioniseminently useful in tending to save life and limb. Another advantage ofmy invention is, that the main rail A and the balusters 0 need not beperforated or out to receive the winter-rail D,and that the winter-milmay be removed in summer Without leaving holes or other injurious markson the main rail or bitlLlStGIS.

I claim as my invention An improved Winter-rail for high stoops,

provided with projecting arms a a and rods 1) d, for convenientapplication to and removal from the broad main railA of a high stoopsubstantially as specified.

R. LO FORTE. Witnesses:

A. MORAGA, 1 G. WEBB.

